Verbal threats stop reopening of steps on Cork city's northside

Cork City Council have said they are unable to reopen steps which have been illegally blocked to the public due to being “verbally threatened” whenever they try, as a councillor says it is unacceptable that the right of way has been blocked for more than a year.

In response to a question from Labour’s John Maher at Monday night’s council meeting, the council’s acting director of local area development and operations, Noel Murtagh, said: “The steps from the Blackpool Bypass to Corkeran’s Quay form a public right of way which was closed, temporarily, during construction works at nearby Conway Court.

“The steps were reopened on completion of building works, restoring the area and the access that had previously existed.

“However, they were blocked up by local residents who were concerned with alleged antisocial behaviour which the steps were attracting.

“As this is public right of way, roads operations staff attended a number of times to re-open the steps.

“On each occasion the staff were prevented from doing so and were verbally threatened. Cork City Council is seeking legal advice on the next course of action and will continue to pursue the matter.”

Mr Maher told The Echo that he did not think the council had done enough to remove the blockade, saying: “A fence is not a solution to anything antisocial, and the self-made barrier is unsafe, and counts as illegal dumping and illegally blocking the right of way.

“In their response, they said there’s been threat and harassment, but I got no answer to my follow-up question if this has been logged with gardaí.

“It seems like we put our heads in the sand — no public right of way that impacts on the greater public should be blocked off indefinitely, and it’s been at least 12 months.”

Mr Maher said that he has been trying to tackle this issue through the back channels and through a motion, saying: “The council recently took down speed 30km signs that a community had put up for the greater good — I just wish they could be consistent.

“It seems that they’re very proactive to go after the good people and things that are easy, but when it’s a bit contentious or there’s more to it, they’re not so good.”